Showalter: Reynolds' move to first doesn't mean he's no longer Orioles' third baseman

Eduardo A. EncinaThe Baltimore Sun

Mark Reynolds is making his first start at first base this season this afternoon, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the move is simply another measure in taking advantage of the team's positional flexibility.

Reynolds, who has made three errors in 10 games at third base this season after making 26 errors there in 114 games last season, met with Showalter two weeks ago and told him he'd be willing to play anywhere in order to help the team.

Since then, Reynolds has had some days off and has DH'ed to help him get out of an 0-for-17 slump.

But this is the first time Reynolds has moved to first base this season. He played 44 games there last year, making just five errors with a .987 fielding percentage.

"He’s played first base," Showalter said of Reynolds. "He’s been taking balls there. I know you’ve been watching. That’s the type of club we’re hopefully [becoming]. We’ll move people around, so when Nick needs a day to DH or this guys needs to do that, it’s not something new. We’re going to use the versatility of our team. I don’t want Mark to DH too much and get Wilson back out there again."

Wilson Betemit, who has committed four errors at third this season, is making the start at third.

Showalter said Reynolds' move to first doesn't take away any confidence Showalter has in Reynolds' playing third moving on.

"We’ve had some good things at third base from he and Wilson and Ryan and some things from all three of them that haven’t been as good as they’re capable," Showalter said. "It’s the nature of the game. We want to keep the versatility in play just like last night, probably like tomorrow."